Who are these Critters you speak of?

Friday, November 20, 2009

I always found it funny when people said, "before you know it your kids will be out of the house," or, "they grow up so fast, if you blink you are going to miss something." I don't think those two statements are too funny anymore. The Critters are growing up waaaaaaaaay too fast. They are already 6 1/2 months old. I remember having to feed them through a tube at the NICU, now they are beginning solid food. We were in preemie diapers and their binkie's were way too big, and now we are solidly in size 2 diapers and their binkie's look too small. My tiny girls and little big guy are not so little anymore. It is amazing to think how quickly time is moving. Christmas, Easter, and their 1st birthday will be here before you know it. Critters, you Dad is going to have a talk with the big Guy and see if we can slow this pesky thing called time down.

According to Wikipedia [with a few additions] this is what has transpired since the Critters were born:

May

• May 13 – Critters born!• May 17 – 6th wedding anniversary.• May 25 – North Korea announces that it has conducted a second successful nuclear test in the province of North Hamgyong. The United Nations Security Council condemns the reported test.

June

• June 1 – Air France Flight 447, en route from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to Paris, crashes into the Atlantic Ocean, killing all 228 on board.• June 11 – The outbreak of the H1N1 influenza strain, commonly referred to as "swine flu", is deemed a global pandemic, becoming the first condition since the Hong Kong flu of 1967–1968 to receive this designation.• June 13 – Accusations of fraud in Iran's presidential election spark sustained protests by supporters of defeated candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi. The violence is said to be the worst seen in Iran since the 1979 revolution that put the current regime in power.• June 18 – NASA launches the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter/LCROSS probes to the Moon, the first American lunar mission since Lunar Prospector in 1998.• June 20 – The death of Neda Agha-Soltan, an Iranian student shot during a protest, is captured on what soon becomes a viral video that helps to turn Neda into an international symbol of the civil unrest following the presidential election.• June 21 – As a step toward total independence from The Kingdom of Denmark, Greenland assumes control over its law enforcement, judicial affairs, and natural resources. Greenlandic becomes the official language.• June 25 – The death of American entertainer Michael Jackson triggers an outpouring of worldwide grief. Online, reactions to the event cripple several major websites and services, as the abundance of people accessing the web addresses pushes Internet traffic to potentially unprecedented and historic levels.• June 30 – Yemenia Flight 626 crashes off the coast of Moroni, Comoros, killing all but one of the 153 passengers and crew.

July

• July 4 – The Organization of American States suspends Honduras due to the country's recent political crisis after its refusal to reinstate President Zelaya.• July 5 – Over 150 are killed when a few thousand ethnic Uyghurs target local Han Chinese during major rioting in Ürümqi, Xinjiang.• July 7 – A public memorial service is held for musician Michael Jackson. It is regarded as one of the most prominent funerals of all time.• July 15 – Caspian Airlines Flight 7908 crashes near Qazvin, Iran, killing all 168 on board.• July 22 – The longest total solar eclipse of the 21st century, lasting up to 6 minutes and 38.8 seconds, occurs over parts of Asia and the Pacific Ocean; it is figured to be the most widely observed total eclipse in human history.• July 28 – Grandma Barbara’s Birthday!

August

• August 2 – Dad’s Birthday!• August 4 – North Korean leader Kim Jong-il pardons two American journalists, who had been arrested and imprisoned for illegal entry earlier in the year, after former U.S. President Bill Clinton meets with Kim in North Korea.• August 7 – Typhoon Morakot hits Taiwan, killing 500 and stranding more than 1,000 via the worst flooding on the island in half a century.• August 20 – Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi, imprisoned for the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, is released by the Scottish government on compassionate grounds as he has terminal prostate cancer. He returns to his native Libya.

September

• September 25 – At the G-20 Pittsburgh summit, world leaders announce that the G-20 will assume greater leverage over the global economy, replacing the role of the G-8, in an effort to prevent another financial crisis like that in 2008.• September 26 – Typhoon Ketsana begins to cause record amounts of rainfall in Manila, Philippines, leading to the declaration of a "state of calamity" in 25 provinces.• September 27 – Polish-French film director Roman Polanski is arrested in Switzerland on a United States arrest warrant.• September 29 – An 8.3-magnitude earthquake triggers a tsunami near the Samoan Islands. Many communities and harbors in Samoa and American Samoa are destroyed, and at least 189 are killed.• September 30 – A 7.6-magnitude earthquake strikes just off the coast of Sumatra, killing around 1,000 in Indonesia.

October

• October 2 – The International Olympic Committee awards the 2016 Summer Olympics to Rio de Janeiro.• October 20 – European astronomers discover 32 exoplanets.

October 31 - Critters First Halloween!

November

• November 3 – The Czech Republic becomes the final member-state of the European Union to sign the Treaty of Lisbon, thereby permitting that document's initiation into European law.• November 3 – Mickey Andrews [Florida State University Defensive Coordinator] announces that he will retire at the end of the 2009 season.• November 13 – NASA announces that it has found a large amount of water on the Moon.

Okay Critters, I just needed to get that off my chest and I also wanted to provided you with a quick timeline of major events that have happened in your first six months. Sorry about the large amounts of plane crashes, earthquakes and generally dismal events. Hopefully the next 5 1/2 months will be a lot cheerier.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Well the Critters had the big ole six month doctors appointment. Everything checked out a okay with them. They also had to get a few shots. When I saw a few that means four each for Carson and Hadley and six for Brother. He was a virtual baby voodoo doll. Well lets just say that he let the nurse know what he thought of her. I must say that the critters slept real well Friday night and took great naps on Saturday. Now how often can, err I mean do they get shots?

Weight and Height Check:

Carson - Weight: 14 lb 6 oz, Height 24 1/2"

Reese - Weight: 14 lb 10 oz, Height 25"

Hadley - Weight: 15 lb 6 oz, Height 25"

Well there you have it, the Critters have apparently caught up to where "they are supposed to be around six months."

The Critters are still getting used to the yummy goodness known as rice cereal. We have had more success with Reese and Carson keeping it down than Hadley. But as you can see from the pictures below it is always entertaining.

Is that a tooth I see?

Nope, just Hadley not eating her rice cereal as usual.

Did you know that a baby could actually sneeze rice cereal out their nose? Well they can, and it isn't fun to clean up.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

King Retsyo (Oyster spelled backwards): King Retsyo, son of Neptune, is the guardian of inland waters, bays and estuaries. He protects our natural resources and the seafood industry. Each year, the Florida Seafood Festival board selects a king who symbolizes Apalachicola Bay and the bounty harvested by the seafood industry.

Rian, the Critters and I headed down Highway 98 to Apalachicola this weekend for the Seafood Festival. It could not have been a better day to be outside in the Florida sunshine. We packed the jeep up and left the casa about 8:30 to try to get down there for the parade. We were unfortunately under the impression that Apalachicola was on central time. Note to self - it isn't. (See pg. 20) We paid to park and found a bench in the shade to feed the Critters. Then it was off to the festival. Let me tell you that all types of folks came out of the woodwork for this festival.

Once we entered the festival we veered left to head to the handmade handicrafts area. We saw some interesting stuff over there, but in particular was the jelly lady. She made some of the best jelly that I have ever had. It was some sort of orange/jalapeno jelly. It had just the right amount of spice to it. Throw that on a cracker (Ritz) with some cream cheese and you will think you are in heaven. Unfortunately, we waited too long to buy some and by the time we headed back to make the purchase she was out. Update: She heads to Tallahassee once every two weeks so there will be some orange/jalapeno jelly in my belly soon!

After making our way through that section we headed off for the real reason we were there - seafood. Let me tell you this was some of the freshest seafood that you will ever have. The oysters were pulled out that morning and the shrimp the day before. Nothing, I repeat nothing, beats a raw Apalachicola Oyster on a cracker with Cocktail Sauce. After stuffing our faces we headed over to the oyster eating contest. Now as I have said, I love me some oysters, but in moderation people. The gentleman who won the contest put down 28 and 1/2 dozen oysters in 8 minutes. Let that sink in. I would be puking all the way back to Tallahassee, and then for another 3 days. The record holder put down 33 dozen and 3 oysters. After that gastronomical abomination we met up with Holly, Marcus and little Sally Kate. We were able to hang out for a little bit, but then it was time for the crew to bid adieu to Apalach and head on home.

We did make one more stop on the way home. We stopped at one of my favorite dives in Panacea, Florida, Posey's. You can't beat the seafood there. I know what you are thinking, "weren't you just at a seafood festival?" Yes, but you can never get too much fresh seafood. So after another round of oysters and some shrimp, we were back in the comfy confines of Tallahassee. You couldn't have asked for a better day, unfortunately I topped it off by watching the FSU game.

Pics:

Entrance to the festival.

The snazzy shirt design. No Rian and I did not buy matching shirts.

Rian w/ shrimp. Oyster eating contest in the background.

Me and the Critters hanging with Royalty. King Retsyo came over to see the Critters. Take notice of his jeans and gold shoes.

Marcus, Holly, Reese and I.

Apparently Holly, Reese and I were the only ones who got the memo to wear a striped Oxford.

Gratuitous shot of the infamous "CarCar toes."

Hadley taking it all in.

The family unit at the 3 o'clock feed. Right before heading back home.

We say "two's company; three's a crowd" because sometimes two people are having fun together and would not have as much fun if a third person joined them. Example: "I hope he does not come over to our table; two's company; three's a crowd." "Company" here means people who have been invited; they are relaxed and comfortable together. A "crowd" is an uncomfortably large group who's size cannot be controlled. "Two's company; three's a crowd" says that a group of two people is more comfortable than a group of three. Example: "I was hoping just you and I would see the movie. Why did you have to bring your sister? Two's company; three's a crowd!"

This would summarize the world that many parents of multiples and parents of multiple children live in. The difference is is that it is actually fun a majority of the time. While the "crowd" overwhelms you, you find yourself being sucked into the joy that your critters are experiencing. There are not too many things better than hearing Hadley let out one of her excited screams or CarCar giggling over on the play mat.

Rian had a play date with another set of multiples who happen to live in our neighborhood. Caroline (mom), Alden, and boy Carson came over to party. For those who are counting that is two adults for five babies (all 4-6 months old). From all accounts that I heard it was a great time for all. Next time the Critters will be making a trip to Alden and boy Carson's house to play.

Monday, November 9, 2009

Yes, that is our bed, and yes that is Abbey in our bed. This is what we came home to on Sunday morning after breakfast. Abbey is almost 3 years old and has never gotten on to the bed. Couch yes, but I didn't think that she could jump that high. Apparently our dog does has some ups. Now Rian is terrified that Abbey is going to jump on the bed in the middle of the night. I think that Abbey learned her lesson from Rian's initial reaction.

After a long weekend of festivities and one slim victory by FSU it was time for the Critter's First Halloween. Not much to say except that the Critters had a great time. Well, except for Reese when Mom was trying to put the red lipstick on his nose.

Pics:

The Critters in costume.

Mom, Dad, and the Critters.

Hadley had a slight malfunction with her costume.

CarCar trying to be serious even though she is dressed as a Candy Corn.

Aunt Donna is another one of Rian's saviors. She comes over every Tuesday to watch and play with the Critters. The Critters absolutely love her. Mom, Dad, Grandma Kate, Grandma Barbara, and the Critters hoped on the car and drove over to see Aunt Donna on Halloween.

Pics:

The Critters on the way to Aunt Donna's house.

CarCar's costume from the rear. Her costume had a little height to it.

The Critter's super busy first Halloween continues. On Friday afternoon, Grandma Kate, Mom, and the Critters headed to Pumpkins in the Park. This shindig was organized by Rian's friend Betsy. I met up with them midway through the party. The Critters got to put on their costumes and head to the park. The Critters also went for their first swing today. As the pictures will show Brother didn't want to get out of the swing. Dad could only stay for a few minutes but it sounded like everyone had a great time.

Pics:

Dad, Mom, Grandma Kate, and the Critters.

CarCar.

CarCar and Mom.

Betsy and Hadley Ann.

Hadster swinging away.

CarCar wanted the top of her Candy Corn down so she could feel the wind in her hair.

On Friday the Grandma's, Parents, and Critters pack up and made the long journey down the street to Faith Presbyterian Church for it's annual Trunk or Treat. Trunk or Treat is a festival where the church members park their cars and distribute candy from their trunks. They also had hot dogs and snow cones for everybody. The Critters had a great time and they got to show off their super cool costumes.

Pics:

A view of the crew.

Mom and the Hadster.

Hadster once again.

Me, CarCar, Marcus, and Sally Kate.

Holly, Sally Kate, and Marcus.

Hadley giving me the finger and letting me know that it was time to blow this joint.

Just wanted to do a quick post about our Crittersitter. Taylor relieves Rian on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons. She is a member of the FSU Chapter of Pi Beta Phi Fraternity. The best thing is the Critters love her, especially Reese.